Apparatus for treating hydrocarbons



Feb. 7, 1933. H. -r. DARLINGTON 1,896,165

APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS Filed April 23, 1927 4-...- $3M TOPRIMARY zRncmme MEHDIS men/ Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STAT S PATENTOFFICER HOMER '1. DARLIN GTON, OF WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGITOR,IBY MEBNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO'OIL CORPORATION OF AMERICA, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE [APPARATUS roa 'rnm'rme mnocaanons Application filed April 28,1927.. Serial No. 188,005.

struction devised by me, and hereinafter de-.

scribed. 1 This treatment takes place preferably, though notnecessarily, at a point intermediate the stage of partial cracking in astillor kindred apparatus and the stage of dephlegmation or separation.

My process will be better understood if, in connection with thedescription of it, reference is made to the accompanying drawing,

and the following description of the reaction chamber I have invented.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the reaction chamber; and v Y I Fig. 2is a plan of the same.

Like figures indicate similar parts.

'The reaction chamber ismade up of a plurality of tubular membersarranged substantially parallel, to each other longitudinally andconnected at or near their ends by tubular' members or transfer tubes,of which I have shown one arrangement "only. This construction isadopted, among other things,

to promote circulation of the oil. The number and length of thesetubular members may vary andtheymay, and under some condi- =tionsshould, be of difierent lengths.

- "In the drawing, 1a is the portal through which hydrocarbon, which hasbeen highly heated and partly cracked, enters the reaction chamber underconditions of temperature "and pressure "conducive to cracking, from thestill at 1, and is directed by the deflector plate 2 in the courseindicated by the. arrows circulating aroundthrough 3, 4, 5 and-(Landthrough" 7 8, 9, 5 and 7 and passing to 14,

which I call a zone of non-circulatory turbulence, located in theterminal tubular member 8 beyond and above the line of circulation.therethrough'wherein the hydrocarbon does not circulate to. anysubstantial de ee, but owin to the motion communica by the circu ationin other parts of the chamber and the continuous or intermittent feedingof hydrocarbon thereto anddischar of hydrocarbon therefrom isina state 0turbulence.

This zone of non-circulatory turbulence may be so positioned in relationto the zone of active circulation that the movement therein has achurning effect. In some instances this is desirable and producesbetter, results. This zone of. non-circulatory turbulence may be, asshown, an integral part of one of the tubular sections of the reactionchamber.

, 12 is a means of discharging hydrocarbon vapors fromthe zone ofnon-clrculatory turbulence and feeding them to a dephlegma- .tor,separator or other apparatus for further treatment. 10 shows an optionaloil level in the zone of non-circulatory turbulence, which level ma varyas required by the character of hy rocarbon and working conditionsemployed, and 11 is an indicator or other means of ascertaining the oil,level.

' Valve controlled means a 13 Y are provided for the introduction, asand when desired, of a catalyst,'agas, steam, or a treatin or other 7agent. The addition of a cata yst, gas,

steam, a treating or other agent, or two or more of them, may be made atthe, point indicated or at anyiother part of the reaction chamber, or tothe zone of non-circulating turbulence alone. 15shows valvecontrolledalternative means for introducing new stock, or stock that has beentreated.

, Heavy fractions, such, for example, as may be employed'in' the makingof 'lubricat ing oil, deposited carbon, and any hydrocargbon it is notdesired to treat further. at the .time may be withdrawn through thevalve controlled outlet 16. Efiiciency in the operationof my saidprocess and the use of my said apparatus is promoted by controlling thetemperature in the zone of non-circulatory turbulence,-and provision istherefore made for the controlled re ulation of temperature thereinbythe a mission therein at will of fresh oil or other stock through avalve controlled line 17. Any other approved method of controlling andregulating the temperature in this zone may be used instead of the oneshown and described.

I have sought to combine and arrange the several parts of this reactionchamber in the most convenient and practical manner for effective use,but I do not confine myself to the embodiment of my invention shown, andI may vary the form and character of the several parts and the method ofassembling them and still have an apparatus embodying the principleswhich make my apparatus new and distinct.

This reaction chamber may, and ordinarily should, be insulated and itmay have means of heating (not shown) either direct or by heatinterchange in any approved manner. While I prefer that hydrocarbonshould be raised to a cracking temperature in a still before itsintroduction to the reaction chamber, it may be preheated in any mannerdesired and the reaction chamber used as a combined still and reactionchamber. While mechanical means of circulation within the reactionchamber, other than that provided by the addition of a catalyst, gas,steam or a treating agent when used, is ordinarily not required, thereaction chamber may have in it mechanical means of circulation, such aspaddles, a propeller 18 or an impeller operated by an external source ofpower, and it should be provided with such a means of circulation whennot connected, as it is in the drawing, to a still or other preliminarytreating apparatus having such mechanical means of circulation.

I have found in actual practice that a multiplicity of tubular membersarranged as shown in the drawing promotes circulation, and when theseparallel tubular members exceed two, the circulation of the hydrocarbonsincreases progressively from the lace of entry and in the tubes moredistant t erefrom is exceedingly active, and that this rapid circulationaids the cracking of hydrocarbon within the reaction chamber and causesthe yield of desirable products.

In the practical use of this reaction chamber and the practice of myprocess, I feed an oil stock, preferably continuously, butintermittently if desired, to a still of any approved type, havingsuitable means of heating and applying pressure, and preferably, thoughnot necessarily, mechanical means of promoting circulation. I maintainin the still a temperature and pressure conducive to cracking and passthe oil at cracking temperature and pressure in liquid form through theportal 1a into the reaction chamber. I then circulate the oil, in such away as to provide two or more circuits in heat exchange relationshipthrough the mergence and digreater quantities of more vergent dischargeof the circuits, one of which, if at a higher temperature than the otherby reason of its discharge through the still, will transfer its heat tothe other thereby obviating the necessity for passing the oil containedin both of the circuits through the still or other heating appliance. Inthis way the hotter circuit is cooled by the cooler circuit which isitself heated by the hotter circuit and finally passes in the apparatusas shown to the zone of non-circulatory tur bu lence already described.There it vaporizes and the vapors pass through a pipe line controlled bythe valve 12, or other connection, preferably to a dephlegmator, butthey may pass to a separate or other apparatus for further treatment. I

To aid in the cracking and the vaporizing, I introduce through meansprovided for that purpose, at 13, or elsewhere if preferred, a catalyst,gas, steam or treating agent, or two or more of them, or I may, if Iprefer, omit this addition. I

I have found that circulation of the peculiar kind shown, the agitationof the hydrocarbons in a zone of non-circulatory turbulence and thepresence of a treating agent in the hydrocarbon while circulating andalso while in the zone of non-circulatory turbulence, each effectuallycontribute to the cracking and vaporization of the hydrocarbons and eachhelp to produce more and higher grade products than can be otherwiseobtained, and that each one of them alone has some effect, but that theywork more efficiently'when some or all are used in combination.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oil comprising a pair ofvertical tubes of large cross sectional area, one of the tubes beingsubstantially longer than the other and the tubes being connected nearthe ends of the shorter tube so as to constitute an enlarged chamberadapted to contain a bulk supply of oil. under super-atmosphericpressure and cracking temperatures for a prolonged period to-efl'ectsubstantial conversion thereof, means for cyclically supplying highlyheated oil tothe short tube, means for circulating oil cyclicallythrough the short tube and part of the longer tube, the upper portion ofthe longer tube being extended above the circulatory zone, and means forwithdrawing vapors from the upper part of the longer tube.

2. An apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oilv comprising three verticaltubes of large cross-sectional area, one of the tubes beingsubstantially longer than the other two, and the tubes being connectednear the ends of the shorter tubes so as to constitute an enlargedchamber adapted to contain a bulk supply of oil under super-atmosphericpressure and cracking temperatures for a prolonged period to effectsubstantial conversion thereof,

means for cyclically supplying highly heated r emmaoil to the shorttubes means for circulating oil cyclically through the short tubes anpart of the lon er tube, the u r portion of the longer tu being exten eabove the circulatory zone, and means for withdrawing valpgrs from theupper part of the longer tu HOMER T. DARLINGTON.

